Jason Stephens on the Logies

[Mason Hell-Cat]

Thankyou, thankyou!!!

Jason was just on, doing an acceptance speech for 'Choir of Hard Knocks'.
Damn good to see our ol mate with a talking part on telle once more!!!

This has made my night!

[kat-rant]

I missed it, I'm watching Star Wars Ep III on Channel 10

Two of my students in my drama class are members of the choir, that's really cool :)

[menagers]

Yes, it was truly great to see him there (even if they sadly didn't announce his name). But a most deserving program and brilliant speech by Jonathon Welch.

Wonderful to see John Clarke in the Hall Of Fame, and tears of joy from Gina Riley!

Interesting night. I paticularly liked Straunchie's dig at ch9 - of course I did.

Oooh Late Breaking News! Stephen Curry won for The King and thanked Jason! Funny speech too. And on a related note to his speech; it looked like no spouses were on the tables at all - just stars sitting next to each other. Weird or Normal?

[13 schoolyards]

And then Daryl Somers begs someone - anyone - to bring Hey Hey back. And people cheer. Ugh. Still, I'm telling myself that the applause for Robert Fidgeon when he showed up in the memorial reel was applauding the fact that he's gone forever. It certainly was at my house.

And Lilley didn't get the gold! Yes!!

[kim]

Good on Jason.

[Mason Hell-Cat]

And Lilley didn't get the gold! Yes!!

Not a fan??
I personally was a bit disappointed that neither he or Andrew Denton didn't win...

[13 schoolyards]

It's kinda strange considering how crap the Logies are, but I really didn't think Lilley deserved to win. I'm probably the only person here who thinks that Summer Heights High was sloppy, stale and not remotely funny (Lilley has one joke: bad high school musical numbers. And he's used it in every series he's been part of). But despite not being really that good compared to good stuff from the past and overseas he's been hyped like crazy, largely because there's nothing else like his stuff currently on offer in Australia. Basically, the networks only allow crap on air, then expect us to give that crap awards - and if that's the case, I'd rather see something most people admit is crap win.

(though I was glad that Stephen Curry won a silver)

Seriously, wouldn't Shaun Micallef be a more deserving Gold Logie winner? If it was remotely based on merit, of course. And I'm sure Denton's day will come - he just needs to zoom in more on people he's made cry.

*edit* wow, I'm just full of hate this morning, aren't I? It was seeing Daryl lobbying for the return of Hey Hey that's done it...

[ShitScared]

I'm proud to stand alone and say "Bring Back Hey Hey!"

[Mason Hell-Cat]

(Lilley has one joke: bad high school musical numbers. And he's used it in every series he's been part of).

in fairness, the bad high school musical was a big component of Summer Heights High for only one of the major characters. This equated to good laughs, and great characters.

Again, in We Can be Heroes, the university musical component was a fairly major thing for one character. It also equated to good laughs.

I don't look at high school musicals as being Lilley's one-joke show and write him off as nothing more. He just realises they bring the lols and incorporates them where he can. I say bring it on.

[Pete the Clown]

I was happy to see Jason on stage to win the logie. I just kept thinking as he was on stage of The Awards show for awards shows sketch on The Late Show. It's just wierd to see Jason accept a serious award for Choir of Hard Knocks. Happy that Stephen Curry mention him as well in his speech which was a highlight in sppechs only (a rare one at that last night).

"I'm drinking out of someone elses coffee mug."

[Mason Hell-Cat]

I just kept thinking as he was on stage of The Awards show for awards shows sketch on The Late Show.

yeah i got a touch of that too. It was the way he was leaning in that made me think of the way Tommy G leant in. I was hoping Jase would crack in to a wacky waiter style smile.

[13 schoolyards]

in fairness, the bad high school musical was a big component of Summer Heights High for only one of the major characters. This equated to good laughs, and great characters.

Again, in We Can be Heroes, the university musical component was a fairly major thing for one character. It also equated to good laughs.

I don't look at high school musicals as being Lilley's one-joke show and write him off as nothing more. He just realises they bring the lols and incorporates them where he can. I say bring it on.

Oh, I don't think Lilley's a one-joke guy - he's also got rape jokes (two in the first episode of SHH). Seriously, after "Thank god you're here - grandma's been raped", he had a lot of work to do to win me back. And he failed.

I like a bad musical as much as the next guy - just not as much as Lilley does. And after the third or fourth time (don't forget, Ja'ime had her own musical number in We Can Be Heroes) it no longer equates to good laughs for me. But I do think Lilley was really good in Big Bite. Mr G there was the best he's ever been.

And yeah, it was great to see Jase on screen again. A real highlight of a fairly average Logies for mine.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

I'm probably the only person here who thinks that Summer Heights High was sloppy, stale and not remotely funny

Well I agree with you. I really disliked the programme and couldn't believe the hype and adulation it and WCBH got. Apart from the musical stuff, where are the laughs? OK, there were some things which approached comedy, but they were mostly overshadowed by all the self-indulgent, improvised crap which apparently equates to great characterisation, pathos and social satire. Personally I prefer Frontline for that sort of thing, a show which was satirical, funny, full of proper fleshed-out characters, oh, and FUNNY.

Still, lovely to hear Jase got up to accept a Logie and John Clarke in the Hall of Fame: talent triumphs at last. Hurry up and download, torrent, I want to watch it!

[menagers]

Ah yes, I thought I was recording it on VHS for us all, but no dux-o-shit here just recorded more ABC over her as yet unwatched tape of East of Everything, nice move numbnuts.

I still feel very guarded towards SHH, it made me laugh at times, but it was overly cruel and well, inappropriate (for want of a better word). I still don't get the joke of that musical. Maybe it was because he used the sl*t word far too many times, I am most prejudiced against that. Or maybe it was because when that character freakishly resembled a real life tragedy, he virtually said "Puck You!" to the family. But I will concede it makes other people laugh, my half siblings who are part Islander included. It seems everyone knows a Jonah - so they love Summer Heights High.

But putting aside the comedy (or lack thereof depending on how you see it), doesn't Chris Lilley give you the creeps? Oooh, he does me. Such a weird little man, ungracious, seemingly conceited: "There were other good programs in this category.. uh, I mean great". WTF? Just who does he think he is? I still can't get over the way he behaved at Chadstone that day he did the signings. So he was signing for two hours, big deal! Surely any normal person who had reached the highest star of fame in this country, like him, would be inclined to give just that little bit more? Hundreds of people there - a once in a lifetime type thing, I should imagine - and he insults them so much he has to dive for cover in Centre Management office!! What a nutbag. I think he IS his Mr. G character through and through. I've read him described as "genius" and "brilliant" by people at the ABC. I do wonder if his eccentricities (or Asperger's but now I'm being cruel) were so out-of-the-box they were charmed by his odd uniqueness? I'm just mad because the ABC commission this guy (I suspect mostly because he is young) and show the door to Bob Franklin and Micallef/ Martin. CRAZY.

But back to Jason. Weren't his shoes pointy? :)

[Mason Hell-Cat]

you critics of SHH are also the very same critics of the Office, correct?
Hmmm......

[13 schoolyards]

Well, yes, because they both have so much in common. I really liked The Office the first time around, but its style became such a cliche so quickly - and Gervais seemd to be playing David Brent in every single thing he did, whether it worked for the setting or not - that I don't want to go back in case my still-fond memories are ruined.

And once I got the chance to re-watch both Frontline and The Larry Sanders Show (which both do everything The Office does only with jokes) I realised that I'd much rather watch a show where a joke is followed by another joke, not a minutes worth of uncomfortable silence.

Having Lilley constantly discribed as a comedy genius when the proof for this genius seems pretty thin on the ground has only put me further off him. Being an actual genius should involve more than being ok at playing characters and creating repetitive shows where not a lot happens apart from, well, playing characters (and bad drama, which is supposedly "moving" because it's in a comedy). Self-indulgent is the word that comes to mind re Lilley, not genius.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

You put that so well schoolyards and I don't have much to add to that other than a general comment about Frontline. I'm currently working my way through that great series and picture quality aside, it really is fantastic. Unlike the sort of stuff produced by Gervais and Lilley it's genuinely dramatic, genuinely clever, genuinely satirical and most importantly has some LAUGHS in it. I hate this notion that's been popularised in the English speaking press in recent years that, actually, you don't need laughs anymore in comedy. Ackward silences and contrived controversies are more than adequate apparently.

[13 schoolyards]

That's why I (still) love The Late Show - it's just funny through and through. You don't have to "know where they're coming from" or have to "know someone just like that" to get what's going on. And they never had to have a scene where Grahame & The Colonel got fired and had to beg for their jobs back while crying to make it great comedy.

Because this is a Jase thread, here's two words funnier than anything Lilley has ever said ever: "Hands off!" Take that, "Puck you".

[Mason Hell-Cat]

Because this is a Jase thread, here's two words funnier than anything Lilley has ever said ever: "Hands off!" Take that, "Puck you".

Yeah, back to Jase!

'Hands Off' is still one of my most favourite skits from TLS. Outstanding work.

[13 schoolyards]

Mine too. He's a comedy legend just on the basis of that... though I get the feeling that Judith probably wrote the actual bit. It does seem to be her book.

[skel]

Did you see Lilley is looking to do a new series where he combines the characters from We Can be Heroes and Summer Heights High? Where are the new situations and characters? Is everything he does going to be mockumentary? I didn't like Summer Heights and it really taught my students how to be disrespectful. The amount of times I slammed their heads into desks for telling me to get pucked. Little fuckers... And seriously, if Lilley came out of the closet, who would be surprised? He spends more time in a dress than the guys on the various footy shows.

[baudrillard]

I can't wait. I've always thought he was shit.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

I don't care whether it causes kids to become suicide bombers, I just wanted it to be funny! And if he's really planning to cover the same ground yet again for a third series, then that makes me wonder whether visiting the set and blowing myself up might not be such a bad idea.

Incidentally, Lilley's got a girlfriend. When he got his first Logie the other night he gave her a kiss before he went up to accept it.

[baudrillard]

He's a pedo!

[SandhurstMachinery]

Incidentally, Lilley's got a girlfriend. When he got his first Logie the other night he gave her a kiss before he went up to accept it.

LAVENDER!

[menagers]

Yeah, absolutely. I've know countless boys (well, two) who have gone just days from walking down the aisle before they came out. Which isn't to say they didn't love those girls, it just wasn't the life they were intended for. We women that worked with those guys knew it, knew it, knew it, years before they did. Having said that though, my gaydar has a few malfunctions: I was well sucked in by Stephen Fry's celibacy and I'm still in denial about Paul McDermott. There's just something so effeminate about Lilley.

[baudrillard]

No Mason, I love the UK version of The Office and I don't agree with 13. Gervais' character in Extras is very different from his character from the Office. Lilley is a hack though, I've always thought his shows were substandard and boring and he's not getting any better with age and experience. To hear that he's going to try and combine the two really is the nail in the coffin. Someone put him out to pasture before he's hailed as Australia's greatest working comedian.

[13 schoolyards]

I don't think Lilley's actually gay (for that matter, I don't really care) - I just think he's one of those "drama fag" types who really, really love dressing up and mincing around. So much so that he seems to think the audiences loves his creations as much as he does. Uh, no.

skel, where'd you hear about Lilley's combo show? Being an avid follower of his media appearances (mostly to fuel the hate... or maybe I just have a problem) since SHH he's been very careful not to mention anything about his upcoming plans. Not that I'm surprised, mind you - I dimly recall SHH was going to feature a large cast of all new characters (plus Mr G) but that soon shrunk down to just one (and I think Jonah was the best bit of SHH - if only the character hadn't had such a shitty, obvious, midday movie drama plot line). But if Lilley's come out and announced his next project as just another more of the same retread that's actually a big departure from his usual silence. Though it's probably good news for the haters, as he's going to seriously look like a one-trick pony after something like that... unless it's just going to re-use the over 100 hours of un-used footage from SHH?

By the way, for fans of The Office, and Gervais' style of comedy in particular, may I recommend Robert DeNiro's The King of Comedy? Only recently out on DVD, it's the flat-out best example of "awkward pause" comedy ever, and one of my fave movies of all time. Maybe that's why I don't like Gervais much - after all, he's no DeNiro

[kichigai]

While we are (briefly) on the topic of Extras/The Office. Has anyone seen the Extras Christmas Special? Quite a moving ending to the series. Gervais delivers a great performance. Well worth the download.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

I like King of Comedy too. Apart from various other things, it's an interesting look at comedy obsession.

Anyway, while we're talking Logies I was watching my t*rr*nt last night and noticed that Adam Hills thanked his Year 10 drama teacher Mr Turducken. A sly Get This reference?

[menagers]

I wish it was a tip of the hat to Get This, but they had a guest on S&S who talked about the Turduckan and I think it was more in reference to that.

[LSNut]

Lilley annoys me more than any screen personality I can think of in memory ..

Great to hear Jase was up on stage - did he look in good shape ?

[skel]

The Courier Mail in Brisbane had something about it during the week. The quote from Lilley was the usual "I think it'd be interesting to revisit these characters and see what they're up to", but you would understand if he was saying that in 20 years, not six months later. The article did say not to expect it soon as Lilley has sold Summer heights to HBO....

[Bean Is A Carrot]

Jase looked exactly the same except he has a few grey hairs now. Hell, why don't I just put it up on You Tube so you can have a look...stay tuned.

EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsnXaSThAcI

[LSNut]

Jase looked exactly the same except he has a few grey hairs now. Hell, why don't I just put it up on You Tube so you can have a look...stay tuned.

EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsnXaSThAcI

Bean Is A Champion !!

Thank so much .. Jase does look great .. and yeah could almost at one point hear him slip into a bit of a TLS pisstake ..

Congrats to him on the award .. from his emotion in the acceptance sounds like a lot of heart went into it ..

[kim]

Thanks for putting that up, Bean.
Yeah! Jason looked like he was going to start talking to "all the ladies out there... out there".
What's with the ubiquity of Georgie Parker, anyway? She looks the same as she did in 1991, but sounds even more Aussie than I can remember.

[13 schoolyards]

I don't know if it's me or not, but *everyone* in Australia sounds more Aussie than they used to. The accent seems to have really come on strong during the Howard years...

[menagers]

Good Lord! What a funny thing to observe! The upwards inflection is entirely out of hand, I'll grant you. But I like to blame everything on Gen Y. My friend asked a shop attendant if there were any more A2 sections to The Age because there seemed to be none left, and the response she got back was the most exaggerated "ARE YOU SERIO-US???(pronounced upwards inflection)". But then again, something about that smacks of Kylie Mole, so who can say?

Is no one going to discuss Jason's outrageous winkle pickers with me?

[Bean Is A Carrot]

I don't know if it's me or not, but *everyone* in Australia sounds more Aussie than they used to. The accent seems to have really come on strong during the Howard years...

I just thought it sounded like that because I'd been in London for 8 years! It's probably that less and less people feel the need to speak "properly" (i.e. like English people). You could interpret that as Australians feeling more comfortable with their own voice. Or you could take a more hardline approach: "There are too many bogans! We need to round them up, take them to camps and force them to modulate their tones!".

Is no one going to discuss Jason's outrageous winkle pickers with me?

I didn't notice them, but sure...I've got time before that Sex & the City film opens.

[kat-rant]

I have noticed a more bogan intonation, but i attributed that to moving from the eastern suburbs to the northern, and therefore a higher content of bogans around me!

[menagers]

Pete the Clown already posted some of this article, but I found the rest of it and thought it made for good reading too. Espesh if you like the Jase.

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/05/interview-jason-stephens.html

What are our thoughts on Comedy Slapdown? Mine are a little along the lines of - aieesh! But then I don't have Foxtel, so I could be a tad bitter.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

Yeah, Comedy Slapdown sounds quite underwhelming. Still, nice article. Thanks for posting.